Former Nigeria’s Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has explained why the recently commissioned Geometric Power Plant in Aba is not only a welcome development for Abia indigenes but for Nigeria.
On Monday, Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the 188 megawatts Geometric Power Plant in Aba.
The power plant will generate and distribute its power outside without the national grid.
Professor Nnaji, the Geometric Power Plant chairman told journalists at the commissioning that the project cost $800 million.
Reacting to after the commissioning, Atiku explained why it is important for several reasons.
“Firstly, it improves people’s access to electricity – thereby improving the overall quality of life in Abia,” he said on his X handle.
“This is a privilege the people of Abia must be thankful for. As we all know, more than 40% of Nigeria’s 220 million people do not have access to electricity.
“Secondly, it is a big boost to businesses. Aba is one of Southeast’s industrial nerve centres. The other is the Nnewi axis.”
The Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, said inadequate power infrastructure is identified as the most problematic factor for doing business in Nigeria, saying more than 70% of firms in Nigeria use generators.
“Thirdly, the project is delivered by the private sector – and an indigenous one to boot! It demonstrates the resilience of the private sector despite all the business environment issues,” Atiku said.
“It also demonstrates the capacity of the local private sector to deliver on such huge and complex projects.”
Speaking further, Atiku stated that he has been concerned that the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) has over the years suffered from inadequate investments, failure of generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure.
He noted that Nigeria’s core infrastructure stock is very low, estimated at 35-40% of GDP, below the international benchmark of 70% and below South Africa 87%, Indonesia 70%, China 76% and India 58%.
